South Africa: Western Cape Shows Progress in the Implementation of the APRM

As part of the national series of consultative conferences hosted by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in preparation for the submission of South Africa's third progress report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action (NPoA) of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the Western Cape Province today met for dialogue on progress made thus far.

The African Peer Review Mechanism is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by African Union member States as an African self-monitoring mechanism. Adopted by African Heads of State and Government as a systematic peer learning and self-assessment mechanism based on the NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance adopted at the inaugural Summit of the African Union in Durban, South Africa in July 2002, the mandate of the APRM is to ensure that the policies and practices of participating states conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.

The primary purpose of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practices.

Speaking on the purpose of the session, DDG for Strategic Programmes in the Western Cape Provincial Government Dr Laurine Platzky stated that "The programme should not be treated by communities as an academic exercise, but rather as a practical exercise of how communities can engage themselves in achieving the objectives of the programme from ensuring the right societal structures are in place to avoid situations of abuse and violence which have been so rampant lately. In these social situations, it is not about what government can do for communities but about how communities can put in place the right morals and values."

APRM National Governing Council (NGC) Ms Joyce Siwani provided the national context of the programme and guidelines. Presenting the Western Cape perspective, Ms Zeenat Ishamel cited numerous progresses under the four thematic areas of focus. There has been a notable increase in the number of formal partnerships including partnerships formed to improve service delivery and intergovernmental approach partnerships.

The inputs from the Western Cape consultative conference will be included in South Africa's third progress report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action to be submitted at the African Union Summit of Heads of States and Government (HOSG) of APRM participating countries in May 2013.

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